Everything that is changing in Egypt's $80 million Giza Pyramid upgrade

7NEWS

28-04-2025

Egypt 's Giza Pyramids are set to undergo a $51 million upgrade, but not all locals nor experts are convinced the upgrade is a good idea.
Approximately 18 million tourists visit the UNESCO World Heritage site each year, with the government setting a goal of 30 million visitors by 2030.
It is part of a larger plan to improve the experience for tourists in Egypt.
Tourists have complained for some time that they were being harassed and scammed while visiting, prompting the government to launch a hotline for tourist complaints in 2023.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli announced upgrades at the Giza Pyramids last year, the New Arab reported.
'The vicinity of the Giza Plateau houses unique ancient sites that need to receive the attention that befits them,' Madbouli said.
The government expanded on these plans earlier this month, confirming the project is expected to cost $51 million ($A80 million) and will include the restoration of several tombs, the introduction of online ticketing, and a new visitor centre.
Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company is in charge of the project.
Electric vehicles adopted in the complex
The upgrades at the pyramid complex will include new policies prohibiting private vehicles and tour buses from entering.
Tourists and their guides will instead be provided with electric vehicles to travel around the site in.
However, some tourists claim they were forced to wait or walk in hot weather due to a lack of electric vehicle availability at the site.
Orascom responded by making 45 electric buses available at the site, running every five minutes.
Animal vendor disputes
The upgrade also includes a new access point to the complex to alleviate congestion.
However, a trial run of the new entrance was met by a protest from horse and camel tour operators, MSN reported.
Part of the proposed upgrades includes relocating these vendors to new designated parking areas, which they claim are too far away and will result in a loss of business.
However, MSN reported the vendors have been accused of harassing and extorting visitors.
In protest of the proposed new entrance, vendors blocked vehicles from entering it.
Vendors who refuse to move to the new zone will be banned, the owner of the company behind the upgrade said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
'The well-being of the public and preservation of this treasure is far more important than catering to the interests of 2,000 individuals who have caused harm to the country for years,' Orascom Telecom Holding and Orascom Investment Holding founder Naguib Sawiris said.
Animal vendors at the site have been contentious for some time, and has been investigated and condemned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
'PETA has documented the routine punching, kicking, whipping, and starving of horses and camels at the pyramids,' PETA Asia Vice President Jason Baker said.
'Animals are literally ridden to death and then dumped like rubbish outside the gate.
'The Pyramids of Giza should symbolise Egypt's beauty and history — not unchecked animal abuse.
The Egyptian government must act to remove these suffering animals from Giza.
'In the meantime, tourists must vote with their wallets and avoid these animal attractions at all costs.'
The pyramid complex — also known as the Giza necropolis — is located about 20 minutes from Cairo on the edge of the Western Desert. It is home to the Great Pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre, and the pyramid of Menkaure alongside their attached complexes and the Great Sphinx.
Several temples, cemeteries and worker's village remains are also included in the complex.
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